[2025 Jinzhong Attraction] Travel Guide for Yuci Old City (Updated May)

🌟Speaking of Temple of the Town God, the one in Shanghai may be the most famous, but when it comes to history and architectural exquisiteness, the one in Yuci Old Town is definitely the best. Buildings from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties are scattered throughout the city, forming a unique ancient building complex nurtured in the soil of Jinshang culture. Located on the main road of Jin, it can still be so well preserved, which is inseparable from the local rulers of the past dynasties. They were clear-headed, had a strong cultural awareness, and knew that cultural relics are non-renewable, destroying them is a regret, and losing them is civilization. 🔅The words "Jinshang"🔅 are no longer empty words. When you come here, you can truly feel the glory of Jinshang in those years. Looking at the bustling crowd, although they are wearing various costumes but no longer the robes and mandarin jackets of that time, it seems like a journey back to the Ming and Qing dynasties.

It was a trip to Jinzhong 🌸 We started our day at Yuci Old Town, a beautifully preserved ancient town where cherry blossoms add a soft touch ✨ to the historical architecture. The contrast between the pink petals and the traditional courtyards made for some of the most unique and picturesque shots 📸 We wandered through the narrow stone-paved streets, stopping at wooden 🪵 archways covered in cherry blossoms. The best time to visit is early in the morning (7:00 AM – 9:00 AM), when the soft morning light enhances the beauty of the flowers, and the streets are peaceful ✨ 📍Yuci District, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China We then visited Chang Family Manor, a grand Qing Dynasty residence known for its impressive courtyards and gardens. During spring, cherry blossoms 🌸 bloom in the garden areas, providing a stunning contrast to the ancient buildings. We explored the stone pathways and found a secluded pavilion where petals gently fell into the pond, creating a perfect photo opportunity 🙌 The best time to visit is between 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM, when the light is soft and ideal for photography 📸 📍Jinzhong City, Shanxi, China We also made our way to Mian Mountain ⛰️ a breathtaking mountain range where cherry blossoms bloom along the hiking trails and temple grounds. The combination of rugged cliffs, historic temples, and delicate pink flowers was absolutely mesmerizing. Between 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM, the lighting ✨ was perfect for capturing the full beauty of this unique cherry blossom spot. We hiked up to a viewpoint where the blossoms framed the stunning valley landscape, making for some of our favorite shots of the day 📸 📍Hiexiu City, Jinzhong, Shanxi, China #Vacation #travel

Shanxi Travel | Must-see attractions in Jinzhong❗ 🌈We've already shared travel guides featuring must-see attractions in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Henan, Shandong, Jiangsu, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Hunan, Guizhou, Zhejiang, Sichuan, and Guangxi. ✅This time, we'll bring you the third installment of the "Must-See Attractions" series in Shanxi Province—Jinzhong City🎉🎉 1️⃣ Zhangbi Ancient Castle 📍Address: Zhangbi Village, Longfeng Township, Jiexiu City, Jinzhong City ⏰Opening hours: 08:00–20:00 💴Tickets: 75 CNY/person, discount tickets 37 CNY 🚎Transportation: Bus No. 301 ✅Recommended reason: A well-preserved Ming and Qing Dynasty castle with a unique military defense system and architectural style. 📌Tip: You can visit the tunnels inside the castle and experience the wisdom of the ancients. 2️⃣ Yuci Old Town 📍Address: Fuxing Road, Yuci District, Jinzhong City ⏰Opening hours: 08:00–18:00 💴Tickets: 49 CNY, discount tickets 29 CNY 🚎Transportation: Bus No. 18/901 ✅Recommended reason: A well-preserved ancient city from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with many ancient buildings and traditional handicraft shops. 📌Tip: You can taste the local specialties in the old town. 3️⃣ Mianshan Scenic Area 📍Address: Nanhuaizhi Village, Mianshan Town, Jiexiu City, Jinzhong City ⏰Opening hours: 08:00–19:00 💴Tickets: 110 CNY/person, half-price tickets 55 CNY 🚎Transportation: Bus No. 302/tourist line ✅Recommended reason: A scenic area integrating natural scenery, historical culture, and Buddhist temples. 📌Tip: You can choose to take the cable car up the mountain to save energy. 4️⃣ Zhenguo Temple 📍Address: Pingyao County, Shanxi Province ⏰Opening hours: 08:00–19:00 💴Tickets: 25 CNY/person, students 10 CNY, children/seniors free 🚎Transportation: Pingyao Bus No. 203 ✅Recommended reason: One of the oldest existing wooden structures in China, the temple houses many precious cultural relics. 📌Tip: Pay attention to protecting the cultural relics and do not touch the ancient buildings. 5️⃣ Wang Family Courtyard 📍Address: Lingshi County, Jinzhong City ⏰Opening hours: 08:00–18:00 💴Tickets: 50 CNY/person 🚎Transportation: Bus No. 1/7 ✅Recommended reason: A large-scale residential complex from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, known as the "Forbidden City of Chinese Folk Houses". 📌Tip: You can hire a tour guide to better understand the history and culture of the Wang Family Courtyard. 6️⃣ Shuanglin Temple 📍Address: Pingyao County, Jinzhong City ⏰Opening hours: 08:00–19:00 💴Tickets: 35 CNY/person, students 15 CNY, children/seniors free 🚎Transportation: Bus No. 15 ✅Recommended reason: A well-preserved Buddhist temple with many exquisite murals and sculptures. 📌Tip: Pay attention to protecting the cultural relics and do not touch the murals and sculptures. 7️⃣ Pingyao Ancient City 📍Address: No. 58 Zhaobi South Street, Pingyao County, Jinzhong City ⏰Opening hours: Open all day 💴Tickets: 125 CNY/person for a pass, discount tickets 65 CNY 🚎Transportation: Bus No. 15/17 ✅Recommended reason: One of the four best-preserved ancient cities, featuring Ming and Qing Dynasty architectural styles. 📌Tip: You can choose to visit the ancient city at night, as the night view is very beautiful. 8️⃣ Qiao Family Courtyard 📍Address: Qiaojiabao Village, Dongguan Town, Qi County, Jinzhong City ⏰Opening hours: 08:00–17:30 💴Tickets: 115 CNY/person, discount tickets 58 CNY 🚎Transportation: Bus No. 6/15 ✅Recommended reason: A famous residential complex from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, showcasing traditional Shanxi architectural style and culture. 📌Tip: It is recommended to book tickets in advance to avoid queuing.

💚💛❤️ There are many New Year activities at Yuci Ancient City, from 9 am to 9 pm. You need to buy a ticket to visit, which costs more than CNY 40 and can only be used once. I went there on the afternoon of the ninth day of the first lunar month. There were many people, but it was not too crowded. You can still see the performances. It was quite cold when the wind blew, so I suggest you go on a warm day. I watched several performances, including "Phoenix Flying Over Yuci," in which an actress flew over from the air and performed "Heavenly Maid Scattering Flowers." There was also a lion dance performance, with yellow and red lions shaking their heads, which was also very interesting. There were also traditional musical instrument performances and dance performances. 💜💖💙

I don't know if it was because the weather was bad on the day I went there. Or is it because I have been to too many old towns? For the 1,400-year-old Yuci Old Town, it feels really average. The Internet says it's good, today I'll tell you how I feel 👎Tickets are too expensive: Chenghuang Temple, County Yamen, and Confucian Temple are paid attractions, 78 for a combined ticket and 38 for a single ticket Everything is good, but there are many free and better looking ones in Shanxi. 👎 Small business: Although there are not many young ladies like Pingyao, there is still a commercial street. 👎The surrounding area is weak: Apart from the ancient city, there is not much to see around. If you want to recommend it, it is better to go to the Jinzhiyuan Mural Museum to see the murals. 👎Food is average: Maybe I didn’t find it, I felt that there were not many delicious foods, I had a Japanese rice, the taste was average 🗓Itinerary: The attractions are mainly concentrated in East Street and North Street City God Temple-West Garden-Yuci County Government-Confucian Temple-Fengming Academy-Wangcheng-Qingxu Pavilion-Chang Family Manor

Here is a travel guide for Yuci Ancient City: 🏞️Attractions: • Yuci Ancient City is a historic cultural city with many ancient buildings and cultural sites. • Stroll along the ancient streets and feel the rich historical atmosphere. • Visit the City God Temple, County Government Office, and Fengming Academy to learn about ancient politics, culture, and education. • Enjoy traditional opera performances, such as Yuci Yangge and Jin Opera. • Taste local specialties, such as Yuci Sausage and Pingyao Bowl Cake. 🍽️Food Recommendations: • Yuci Sausage: Smooth texture with special sauce, very delicious. • Pingyao Bowl Cake: A traditional noodle dish with a chewy texture, served with chili oil, vinegar, and other condiments, very appetizing. • Taigu Cake: Sweet and delicious, one of Shanxi's traditional pastries. • Yuci Aged Vinegar: Buy some aged vinegar as a souvenir and taste the authentic flavor of Shanxi. 🏨Accommodation Suggestions: • There are many hotels and homestays near Yuci Ancient City to choose from, you can book according to your budget and preferences. • If you like to experience local traditional culture, you can choose to stay in a homestay in the old city. 🚗Transportation Guide: • Yuci Ancient City is located in Yuci District, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, with convenient transportation. • You can take a bus, taxi, or drive there. • If you are departing from Taiyuan, you can take a bullet train or long-distance bus to Yuci Station, and then transfer to a bus or taxi to the ancient city. 🗓️Visiting Time: • Recommended visiting time is 2-3 hours to fully appreciate the architecture and culture of the ancient city. • If you want to learn more about the history and culture of Yuci, you can plan more time. 💰Budget: • Tickets: Yuci Ancient City is free to enter, but some attractions require separate tickets. • Transportation and dining costs: Depending on personal choice. • Accommodation costs: Vary depending on the grade and room type of the selected hotel or homestay. Notes: • Yuci Ancient City is a historical and cultural protection area, pay attention to protecting ancient buildings and the environment. • When tasting food, choose reputable restaurants to ensure food safety. • Pay attention to the weather and take sun protection and warmth measures. I hope this guide helps you have a great time in Yuci Ancient City! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me.

|There are city towers, county yamens, and bluestone streets. Yuci Old Town, located in Yuci District, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, is an ancient city with a long history and profound cultural heritage. Walking into Yuci Old Town is like traveling through a time tunnel, feeling the precipitation of ancient civilization and the traces of time. The first thing that comes into view is the city tower, which is like the heart of the old city, extending four streets in the east, west, south, and north. On the East Street in the east, the Chenghuang Temple stands majestically. Yuci County Yamen on the west section of East Street on the north side, this is the only state-scale yamen preserved in the country. In the southeast corner of the county yamen, there is also a Sifeng Building. This is a brick and wood structure building in the Song Dynasty. It is said that there are beautiful legends here, which adds a mysterious color to this building. There are also ancient city walls, which are the iconic buildings of Yuci Old Town. It surrounds the entire ancient city, tall and thick, and has not fallen for thousands of years. It shows the exquisite ancient architectural craftsmanship and the crystallization of ancient wisdom. Climbing the city wall, looking around, you can enjoy the full view of the ancient city, feeling the heaviness and precipitation of ancient civilization. The streets in the ancient city still retain the ancient style. The bluestone streets on both sides are old buildings, mottled walls, and flying eaves. Every place exudes a strong historical atmosphere. Walking on the streets of the ancient city, it seems to be in the ancient picture scroll, feeling the life and wisdom of the ancients. Tickets: No tickets are required to enter the ancient city. It is recommended to buy a package ticket (78 yuan) for internal attractions, including Chenghuang Temple, County Yamen, Confucian Temple, Fengming Academy, etc. Opening hours: 8:00-17:00

Look at historical China, come to Yuci Old Town, it's worth visiting Yuci, with nearly 3000 years of city-building history; In the Spring and Autumn period, it was called Tushui, Weiyu, and Zhongdu, and in the Warring States period, it was renamed Yuci; The existing old city was built in the second year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty (582 AD) on the site of the old Han city. The story of "Wei Jiang and Rong" in the Spring and Autumn period happened in the Yuci area. It was the first time in Chinese history that a dispute was resolved peacefully, becoming a landmark of China's "peace culture". Important figures such as Zhao State minister Lin Xiangru, Later Han Emperor Liu Zhiyuan, Song Dynasty prime minister Kou Zhun, and Ming Dynasty honest official Chu Fu were all born in Yuci. Yuci has a superior geographical location and has long been known as the "dry dock". It has always been a hub for north-south distribution and a gathering place for merchants. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Chang family of Chewang who opened the Tea Road, and the Wang family of Niedian who had banks all over the country, together with merchants from Qixian, Taigu, and Pingyao, created the world-renowned miracle of Jin merchants. The existing Chang Family Manor is known as "China's No. 1 Confucian Merchant Family", making Yuci an important birthplace of Jin merchant culture. Due to historical reasons, many buildings in the old city gradually disappeared. In 2000, Geng Yanbo was transferred to Yuci, Jinzhong City, to initiate the restoration of the old city. After the restoration, the city has many historical and cultural attractions such as the City God Temple, County Office, Confucian Temple, Fengming Academy, North and South Streets, City Tower, Sifeng Tower, Qingxu Pavilion, Dasheng Temple, and West Garden, with more than 50 films and TV dramas filmed here.

Jinzhong Yuci Ancient City. Yuci Old City covers an area of 1 million square meters, with ancient buildings and garden buildings covering 600,000 square meters. Inside the old city, there are many ancient buildings such as the City God Temple, the County Government Office, the Confucian Temple, the Fengming Academy, the North and South Streets, and the City Tower. Yuci is one of the ancient cities in Shanxi, serving as the southern gate of the provincial capital Taiyuan, and is known as a significant town in the south of Taiyuan. It costs only two yuan for a train ticket from Taiyuan to Yuci, which is quite convenient. Having seen the prosperity of many provincial capital cities, one might forget the hidden treasures in small towns. My first visit to Yuci left me captivated by the culture hidden within its exquisite buildings.

Located just a 22-minute train ride from Taiyuan, there is an ancient city called 'Wei Yu', which is the hometown of Jin Merchant culture in China. It also boasts a wealth of ancient architecture, and that is Yuci in Jinzhong. ⛰️ One-day tour itinerary: 🌟 Fengming Academy - Yuci Confucian Temple - Yuci City Tower - Yuci County Government Office - Xiyuan - Yuci City God Temple - Qingxu Pavilion (currently closed, you can take a peek through the fence) 🚌 Transportation options: 🌟 It is recommended to take a train from Taiyuan, and after getting off, take a bus to reach the ancient city. 📸 Highlights ✅ Yuci Confucian Temple: It is one of the oldest existing building complexes in Yuci city. There are not many highlights, but two places are worth focusing on. The first is the wooden archway with four pillars and three gates, whose green glazed tiles on top are particularly beautiful. The second is the 28 coiled dragon stone pillars outside the Dacheng Hall, which are majestic. ✅ Yuci County Government Office, known as the 'First Assistant of Jin Vassal' and 'The Number One Office in Sanjin', has a large complex that includes six courtyards with six entrances and exits. The architecture is not too ancient in Shanxi Province, but it well displays the regulations of the ancient county government office and is quite valuable. As the saying goes, 'For imperial courts, visit the Forbidden City; for county government offices, visit Yuci', so naturally, when you come to Yuci, you should see this complex. ✅ Yuci City God Temple, which is a key national cultural heritage site, also has a considerable size. The two statues of warriors inside the mountain gate are particularly spectacular, and after entering the gate, you will see the combined structure of the Xuanjian Tower. The Xuanjian Tower, together with the music tower, stage, and screen wall, form a whole and was rated as one of the world's 100 most exquisite ancient buildings by the World Historic and Cultural Site Protection in 1999. ✅ Other highlights: Due to limited time, I did not visit Chang Family Manor, but there are also many highlights here, such as the largest and most complete ancestral hall in Chinese residential buildings, and the largest screen wall in Shanxi residential buildings, etc. Yuci is not big, but it has many cultural highlights. If you come to Taiyuan, consider taking a day to explore.

The ancient cities of Shanxi are numerous Datong, Pingyao, Xinzhou, Jiexiu, Yuncheng The only one known as the 'Ghost City' is Yuci Old Town... Looking at the navigation map, Yuci seems to be closer to Taiyuan, no wonder the people of Shanxi call Yuci the southern gate of Taiyuan. The old city was built on the site of the old Han City during the Sui Dynasty's Kaihuang era. It has the flavor of Pingyao, but today's Yuci Old Town, most of the buildings are renovated to look old. To call it an old town is still appropriate, at least it doesn't claim to be an ancient city... 📸Highlights ✅ Yuci City God Temple: One of the world's 100 most exquisite ancient buildings ✅ Yuci County Government Office: The number one government office in Sanjin ✅ Yuci Confucian Temple: The Lingxing Gate feels like it's originally from the Song Dynasty ✅ Qingxu Pavilion: The Bagua (Eight Trigrams) caisson ceiling is beautiful Yuci Old Town is not big, just one street across and one street down. The City God Temple is worth a look, the rest you can probably just glance at from the outside. On a big weekend, there are hardly any tourists in the old town, shops are closed, there's nothing to eat or drink, weeds are growing on the ground, and there are many 'large entertainment facilities' in front of the City God Temple, which seem out of place. Is this the so-called blend of ancient and modern? And they dare to charge 78 yuan for admission? I've been to Xinzhou Ancient City, and in terms of ancient architecture, it's not as good as Yuci, but in terms of popularity, the free Xinzhou Ancient City is bustling with visitors... That's what you call a living old town. Yuci was once called Fengcheng I just hope it doesn't become the 'young phoenix' in the story of 'Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix'‼️

I've been to Yuci Old Town many times, but I still love its ancient architecture the most! Yuci Old Town, located in Yuci District, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, was built on the site of the old city in the second year of Sui Kaihuang (AD 582), and has a history of 1400 years, mainly with Ming and Qing architecture. The brick and tile buildings of Yuci Old Town, each with its own beautiful shape, exquisite brick carvings, wood carvings, stone carvings, and colored paintings: the muscular statues in front of the City God Temple, the exquisite hollow wood carvings in the West Garden, the colored paintings of Yuci County Yamen, the first building in the world standing in the C position, etc., vividly tell the vicissitudes of the years and the accumulation of heavy history. Yuci Old Town is free, and the small scenic spots inside need to buy tickets, 60 yuan. Departing from Taiyuan, take the 901 branch line at the train station directly to the old city, the fare is 3 yuan.

Yuci Old Town Yuci is one of the ancient cities of Shanxi, the southern gate of the provincial capital Taiyuan, known as the town of Henan. There is a bus from Taiyuan Railway Station directly to Yuci Old Town. After getting off the bus, it is the archway. The Old Town is free to open, but there are 6 paid attractions to buy tickets. The ancient city is mainly two old streets with crisscrosss, all of which are architectural styles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, but there are not many tourists, and business is not prosperous. All the attractions are on these two streets, there are ancient colleges, old county plaques, temples, and the two scenic spots of Yuci County and Fengming Academy are worth visiting. There are many local snacks on the old street. The restaurants here are mostly noodles, and the various noodles in Shanxi are delicious. As early as the Warring States period, the history book has a record of Yuci Cheng Guo. The Yuci Old Town was built in the second year of the Kaihuang Emperor (AD 582) and has been built on the site of Seoul. It has a history of more than 1,400 years. The old city of Friday, Gao Sanzhang, Jiguang Sizhang, Shangguang Erzhang, Chikuo and Gao, Deep Half has been completely preserved until the 1940s.

Yuci Old Town is located in Yuci District, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province. It was built in the second year of the ancient city (AD 582) and has been built on the site of the ancient city. It has a history of 1400 years. It is a city built according to traditional Chinese planning ideas and architectural styles. It is the crystallization of the ingenuity and perseverance of the working people of ancient China.